Posted on 02/01/2005 3:20:07 PM PST by Dan from Michigan
Ex-Oakland schools chief guilty of misconduct
2/1/2005, 5:14 p.m. ET
The Associated Press
PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — A jury on Tuesday found former Oakland Schools Superintendent James Redmond guilty of misconduct in office and conflict of interest but acquitted him of embezzlement.
Redmond, 53, of Rochester Hills, was accused of failing to disclose his and his son's positions with companies doing business with the district, issuing employee severance packages without board approval and failing to follow the district's business contracting policy.
The misconduct charge could bring up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine, while the conflict of interest charge carries up to 90 days in jail and a $100 fine. Oakland County Circuit Judge Gene Schnelz is scheduled to sentence Redmond on March 16.
The jury acquitted Redmond of embezzlement. Prosecutors had accused him of misappropriating $7,000 by instructing officials, without board of education approval, to recalculate the amount he was owed for vacation days after he was fired from his $275,000-a-year job in January 2003.
That charge carried a possible 10-year prison sentence.
"Today, a jury of Oakland County taxpayers held James Redmond accountable for violating their trust and misspending money earmarked for their children's education," Attorney General Mike Cox said in a news release. "This verdict is a victory for Michigan's schools and Michigan's taxpayers.
A message seeking comment was left for defense lawyer Mark Kriger.
The district oversees special and vocational education programs for the 28 public school districts in Oakland County.
Redmond has been on administrative leave from his position as president of the International Academy of Design and Technology in Troy during the criminal case.
Sure would pay for a lot of classroom supplies ....
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